Author: WAJ Editor

Amnesty International has called on Lebanese authorities to deny extradition requests for Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian-Turkish poet detained in Lebanon since December 28, 2024. The requests, submitted by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have drawn widespread criticism from human rights advocates. Sara Hashash, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, urged Lebanon to reject the extradition, emphasizing that Al-Qaradawi’s detention appears to be linked to his public criticism of Egyptian, Emirati, and Saudi authorities. “Criticizing governments is not a crime,” Hashash said. “If extradited, Al-Qaradawi faces a high risk of enforced disappearance, torture,…

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has unveiled significant upgrades to its shipping network in Southern Africa, aiming to bolster trade links with Europe and other global regions. The company has enhanced its North Europe to South Africa (NWC to South Africa) service and introduced two new shuttle services—Namibia Express and Mozambique Shuttle—expanding regional and international trade opportunities. Key Updates Expanded Capabilities Walvis Bay has been designated as a new transshipment hub for the region, enhancing cargo movement along Southern Africa’s west coast. These upgrades also strengthen MSC’s intra-Africa network, improving trade flows across key ports in the region. The revised…

Malawi’s ex-Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamveka, along with four other former government officials, was arrested on Monday over allegations of embezzling approximately $250 million from two state-owned enterprises. The accused include Lloyd Muhara, former Secretary to the President, Cliff Chiunda, former Treasury Secretary, and Collins Magalasi, ex-CEO of Malawi’s Energy Regulatory Authority. They are alleged to have diverted 447.5 billion kwacha ($258 million) from the Salima Sugar Company and the Greenbelt Initiative. Lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale, representing the suspects, confirmed the arrests. Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya stated that a 2023 audit of the Salima Sugar Company revealed significant financial mismanagement, leading to…

Thierno Amadou Hady Tall, a prominent Malian Muslim leader, has died following his abduction by insurgents in late December, according to an audio message attributed to a senior militant figure circulating on social media on Monday. Tall, the General Caliph of the Tijaniyyah, a major branch of Sufism in West Africa, was known for advocating moderation and non-violence. He was kidnapped near Mali’s border with Mauritania, with the abduction attributed to an Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group. The message, allegedly from insurgent leader Amadou Koufa, claimed Tall died while being transferred to another location for interrogation. A family member, speaking anonymously for…

Sudan has lifted a nearly year-long force majeure on the transportation of crude oil from South Sudan to the Red Sea, citing improved security conditions. The announcement was made in a letter from Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to its South Sudanese counterpart, dated January 4, and confirmed by an official. The force majeure was initially declared in March 2024 after the primary pipeline transporting South Sudan’s oil through Sudan to Port Sudan faced disruptions due to the ongoing civil war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In the letter, Sudanese Energy Minister Mohiedienn Naiem Mohamed…

Clashes erupted in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, on Monday as young demonstrators and police faced off over demands for a return to civilian governance. The protests coincided with the expiration of the 24-month transition period agreed upon by the military junta and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the 2021 coup. The unrest resulted in the death of Mamadou Bailo Sidibe, a 20-year-old sheet metal worker, who was shot in the T8 district of Conakry’s upper suburbs. The incident paralyzed traffic and forced businesses to close in various parts of the city. The protests were organized by the…

Muscat: Oman and Djibouti have signed an air transport agreement to enhance bilateral cooperation in aviation and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods between the two nations. The agreement was formalized on Monday by Eng. Nayef Ali Al Abri, Chairman of Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and Diyauddin Saeed Ba’Makhramah, Djibouti’s non-resident Ambassador to Oman. This accord is part of Oman’s broader strategy to strengthen its role as a regional air transport hub. To date, Oman has signed air transport agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with over 130 countries worldwide, aiming to improve connectivity and link global markets…

Burundi’s ruling party, CNDD-FDD, has dismissed concerns over the presence of Burundian soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and allegations of collaboration with armed groups, including the FDLR—a militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Speaking in Makamba Province on January 4, CNDD-FDD Secretary General Reverien Ndikuriyo rejected Rwanda’s accusations, describing them as baseless. He stated, “The groups accused of genocide… Rwanda has been fighting those groups for 30 years. If they didn’t finish them, that’s their issue.” Ndikuriyo also downplayed claims of Burundian collaboration with FDLR and other armed factions, calling such allegations…

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized Egypt’s commitment to deepening relations with Oman during his official visit to Muscat. In discussions with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al Busaidi on Monday, Abdelatty described the ties between the two nations as “close” and “historical.” The talks focused on advancing bilateral cooperation and coordinating efforts on regional issues of mutual interest, aligning with the directives of the leaderships of both countries. The ministers highlighted the growing momentum in Egypt-Oman relations following President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to Muscat in June 2022 and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s visit to Cairo in May 2023.…

As the lead obstetrician at Al-Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, Safa Ali faces extraordinary challenges daily, but one case stands out. Last August, she treated a pregnant woman shot during the country’s brutal civil war. A bullet had pierced the woman’s abdomen, injuring her unborn baby. Remarkably, both survived. “It was one of the most challenging cases I’ve worked on,” says Ali, 45, who was recently named to the BBC’s annual list of 100 inspiring women. Drawn to obstetrics as a student, Ali found joy in helping bring new life into the world. However, the chaos of Sudan’s…

Barrick Gold Corp., the world’s second-largest gold producer, has warned that it may soon halt mining operations in Mali if ongoing disruptions to exports and site operations are not resolved. The company is embroiled in a contentious dispute with Mali’s military-led government over revenue and profit-sharing from the Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex. Tensions escalated last month when a Malian court issued an arrest warrant for Barrick’s CEO, Mark Bristow. On Monday, Barrick disclosed that an “interim attachment order” had been placed on its gold stock at the site. Combined with a continued export blockade, this could force the company to…

Opposition party ACT-Wazalendo has initiated 51 lawsuits challenging the results and conduct of the local government elections held on November 27, 2024. The elections, overseen by the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI), have come under scrutiny for alleged irregularities. The cases, filed in various district courts across mainland Tanzania, are in their preliminary stages. Summonses are being issued to respondents for mentions and responses to the lawsuits. In a statement released on Monday, January 6, 2025, ACT-Wazalendo’s chief attorney, Omar Said Shaaban, disclosed that the lawsuits have been lodged in districts such as Temeke, Lindi, Ilala,…

Three Nigerian women detained in Saudi Arabia for nearly ten months on drug-related charges have been released following diplomatic efforts. The Acting Spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the development on Sunday. The women, identified as Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah, and Fatima Gamboi, were arrested on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah. They were accused of possessing a substance suspected to be cocaine during a pilgrimage. The arrest was linked to two other Nigerian nationals caught with significant quantities of cocaine—80 capsules weighing 900.28 grams and 70 capsules weighing…

South Africa faces an escalating gas supply crisis, exacerbated by political turmoil in Mozambique. The unrest, sparked by disputed October elections confirming the Frelimo party’s victory, has disrupted operations at Mozambique’s Pande-Temane gas fields, which are nearing the end of their productive lifespan. Petrochemical giant Sasol recently reduced natural gas production at its Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Temane due to the volatile conditions. Although the pipeline remains operational, Sasol’s senior manager for media relations, Alex Anderson, noted that gas supply is being closely monitored to maintain infrastructure stability. Anderson assured that safety measures at the CPF are intact, and…

Kenya Airways is set to trade shares again on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) following the lifting of a suspension that lasted over four years. The NSE announced the suspension’s end on January 5, citing the airline’s improved financial performance as a key factor. The decision comes after Kenya Airways reported its first post-tax profit in over a decade for the half-year ending June 30, 2024. The turnaround was attributed to “Project Kifaru,” a strategic initiative aimed at reducing debt and boosting liquidity. Chair Michael Joseph expressed the airline’s commitment to completing a capital restructuring plan to strengthen its financial…

Over 1.1 million doses of oral cholera vaccine have arrived in South Sudan as part of a government-led campaign to inoculate more than 80% of the population. Despite this effort, the vaccination drive faces significant obstacles, including limited access to areas hardest hit by the outbreak. The campaign aims to vaccinate at least 9 million people, with a focus on children and mothers. The vaccines, delivered to the capital Juba, will soon be dispatched to hotspots like Bentiu, where cholera has claimed 199 lives and infected over 13,000 people since the first case was reported in September in Renk. UNICEF…